Monday August 29, …somewhere near St Helens!!!!!
Tonight we are “dispersed camping”, as they call freedom camping in Washington, we are actually parked in a forestry metal quarry on the road south from St Helens.. but more of that later.
This morning we had a great chat with Leah and Rob before leaving, so enjoyed their company and hope to see them in NZ one day. Gathered a few supplies in Hood River before heading north over the very narrow bridge across the Columbia. We were a bit more prepared this time, but met a truck half way over….pulled our mirrors in and held our breathe and just made it. Extremely pleased to get to the other side.
The wind had been blowing at camp this morning, but over the river it was a howling gale and the wind surfers were out having a blast. Stopped on the north side of the river and watched them for ages, truly amazing the speed they would get up and do 360 degree flips in the air. Had great fun with the camera capturing them. Didn’t see many kite surfers though as I think the wind may have been too strong for them.
Terry had recommended a route up to see Mt Helens from the East side. Turned north from the Columbia at Carson, not far from Hood River then wound up into the mountains, and finally it turned cooler as we left the desert and the valley behind.
Thoroughly enjoyed the drive and stopped at the Forest Info Centre for more detailed maps of the area before a rather windy climb up to the mountain on a road that is closed during the winter. The destruction that the eruption of St Helens wrought on the landscape 30 years ago is still really visible. This area was previously forested and the blast just blew the trees down, you could see the direction of it as all the trees lay in the same direction with the root balls exposed. This area has been kept as a National Volcanic Monument and the natural re-establishment of the forest can be viewed. One side of the road though has been reforested, 4 million trees were planted 2 – 6 years after the explosion so you can very easily see the difference. Kept thinking about the eruption of our Mt Tarawera 125 years ago and that this was probably what it looked like.
Spirit Lake at the base of the mountain had been a very popular holiday destination in the woods, but now it has rafts of floating logs slowly sinking to the bottom.
Terry, thanks for the tip, we thoroughly enjoyed seeing all this. It was getting very late in the afternoon and didn’t feel like driving back down the road again so found a gravel dump half way back down the road in the trees where we camped the night. Great quiet spot….and so pleasantly cool.
This morning we had a great chat with Leah and Rob before leaving, so enjoyed their company and hope to see them in NZ one day. Gathered a few supplies in Hood River before heading north over the very narrow bridge across the Columbia. We were a bit more prepared this time, but met a truck half way over….pulled our mirrors in and held our breathe and just made it. Extremely pleased to get to the other side.
The wind had been blowing at camp this morning, but over the river it was a howling gale and the wind surfers were out having a blast. Stopped on the north side of the river and watched them for ages, truly amazing the speed they would get up and do 360 degree flips in the air. Had great fun with the camera capturing them. Didn’t see many kite surfers though as I think the wind may have been too strong for them.
Terry had recommended a route up to see Mt Helens from the East side. Turned north from the Columbia at Carson, not far from Hood River then wound up into the mountains, and finally it turned cooler as we left the desert and the valley behind.
Thoroughly enjoyed the drive and stopped at the Forest Info Centre for more detailed maps of the area before a rather windy climb up to the mountain on a road that is closed during the winter. The destruction that the eruption of St Helens wrought on the landscape 30 years ago is still really visible. This area was previously forested and the blast just blew the trees down, you could see the direction of it as all the trees lay in the same direction with the root balls exposed. This area has been kept as a National Volcanic Monument and the natural re-establishment of the forest can be viewed. One side of the road though has been reforested, 4 million trees were planted 2 – 6 years after the explosion so you can very easily see the difference. Kept thinking about the eruption of our Mt Tarawera 125 years ago and that this was probably what it looked like.
Spirit Lake at the base of the mountain had been a very popular holiday destination in the woods, but now it has rafts of floating logs slowly sinking to the bottom.
Terry, thanks for the tip, we thoroughly enjoyed seeing all this. It was getting very late in the afternoon and didn’t feel like driving back down the road again so found a gravel dump half way back down the road in the trees where we camped the night. Great quiet spot….and so pleasantly cool.
Comments
travel safe, David & Jane Seath & boys
We really were quite amazed to see Mt St Helens, it just showed the sheer power of the eruption so graphically. Really kept thinking back to Tarawera and how it would have looked 30 years on. Also seeing the road division between what was planted just after the eruption and that which was left to nature really was fascinating.
Last year we were near Ranier but it was wet and clouded in, not sure if we will get there this year.